1. Howard Mancel Roberts was an American jazz guitarist, educator, and session musician.
22 Facts About Howard Roberts
1. 2.
In 1992 Howard Roberts was quoted in The Independent Newsletter by Steve Voce saying he considered that early experience to be "the most valuable" to him in his development as a player.
3.
Howard Roberts concentrated on the 'after hours' scene, jamming with such players as Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon and Buddy DeFranco.
4.
Howard Roberts recorded with the Wardell Gray Quintet on the album Live at the Haig.
5.
At this point Howard Roberts decided to concentrate on recording, both as a solo artist and a Wrecking Crew session musician, a direction he would continue until the early 1970s.
6.
Howard Roberts hired Roberts for the part allowing him to improvise over the action sequences in the show.
7.
The albums Howard Roberts made for Capitol were done for scale, he never received any additional remuneration on their sales.
8.
Howard Roberts played rhythm and lead guitar, bass guitar, and mandolin.
9.
Howard Roberts was known for his heavy use of a modified Gibson L-4 guitar in the studio and for television and movie projects.
10.
Howard Roberts called it the "best guitar I've ever owned" after taking delivery of the instrument.
11.
Howard Roberts recorded with Georgie Auld, Peggy Lee, Eddie Cochran, Jody Reynolds, Shelley Fabares, Dean Martin, the Monkees, Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, Jimmy Smith, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys and the Electric Prunes.
12.
Howard Roberts did not get along well with Spector, as evidenced by his walking out on a session where Spector had fired his pistol into the ceiling, telling Spector to not call him again.
13.
Hal Blaine noted in Denny Tedesco's documentary, The Wrecking Crew, that Howard Roberts was the only person he had ever seen walk out on a date.
14.
Benson, using the Gibson GA-50 as inspiration, told Howard Roberts he was going to build him an amp that would meet his requirements.
15.
Howard Roberts responded by fronting him the funds to build one for each of them.
16.
Howard Roberts traveled around the country giving guitar seminars, and wrote several instructional books.
17.
Howard Roberts developed accelerated learning concepts and techniques, which led to the founding of Playback Music Publishing and the Guitar Institute of Technology.
18.
Howard Roberts was married three times and had five children: one girl with his first wife, Betty; three boys with his second wife, Jill; one son with his last wife, Patricia.
19.
Howard Roberts died of prostate cancer in Seattle, Washington, on June 28,1992.
20.
Howard Roberts' main instrument was a Gibson ES-150 purchased from Herb Ellis.
21.
Howard Roberts worked with Epiphone and Gibson to create several signature guitars.
22.
In 1962, Howard Roberts endorsed Epiphone and later the Epiphone Howard Roberts model was introduced, this guitar being a modified Gibson L-4 based loosely on the design submitted by Roberts and Nelson.